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Lelm 202

The document provides instructions for an experiment to calculate the percentage of pollen germination. Mature pollen grains are sprinkled on a drop of medium containing sucrose, calcium nitrate, and boric acid. The pollen grains are observed under a microscope after 10 minutes to count the total number and number that have germinated. The percentage of germination is calculated. Observations are made in multiple fields and averaged. Pollen tube growth on stigma can also be studied by staining growing tubes with cotton blue.

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Sidharth Behera
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127 views4 pages

Lelm 202

The document provides instructions for an experiment to calculate the percentage of pollen germination. Mature pollen grains are sprinkled on a drop of medium containing sucrose, calcium nitrate, and boric acid. The pollen grains are observed under a microscope after 10 minutes to count the total number and number that have germinated. The percentage of germination is calculated. Observations are made in multiple fields and averaged. Pollen tube growth on stigma can also be studied by staining growing tubes with cotton blue.

Uploaded by

Sidharth Behera
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Exercise 2










Procedure
(i) Prepare the pollen germination medium by dissolving 10g sucrose,
30mg calcium nitrate and 10mg boric acid in 100ml of distilled water.
Alternatively 10% sucrose solution can also be used.
(ii) Take a drop of medium or 10% sucrose solution on a cover slip and
sprinkle mature pollen grains on the drop.
(iii) Invert the cover glass on to a slide
(iv) After 10 minutes, observe the slide under microscope.
(v) Count (a) total number of pollen grains seen in the microscope field,
and (b) the number of pollen grains that have germinated.

Observation
Several pollen grains germinate and put forth pollen tubes. Count the total
number of pollen grains and the number of germinated pollen grains in 3-5
different microscope fields. Tabulate your observations and calculate the
percentage of pollen germination.
Nameoftheplantusedassourceofpollen……………………………
Number of pollen grains in a field of microscope = N
Number of germinated pollen grains in a field of microscope = n
n 100n
Percent pollen germination = ×100 or
N N

21/04/2018
EXERCISE 2

Number of Total number of pollen (N) Total number of pollen germinated (n) % pollen germination
observation n
×100
N
1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Average

Discussion
Although pollen grains of many species germinate in this medium, the
percentage of germinations and the time taken for germination varies in
different species. Draw a germinating pollen grain and label.

Questions
1. How many pollen tubes emerge from a pollen grain?
2. What does the pollen tube carry?
3. Can you explain as to why some pollen grains fail to germinate?
4. Why do we use sucrose as the medium for pollen germination?

13

21/04/2018
Exercise 3











Procedure
(i) Place the stigmas in boiling water in a beaker
for softening the tissues for 5–10 minutes. Pollen grains
(ii) Stain with cotton blue for 3–5 minutes and
wash with water to remove excess stain.
(iii) Mount one stigma in a drop of glycerine on a Pollen tube
slide. Place a cover slip on the stigma and gently
press the cover slip on the material. Observe Style
the slide under a microscope.
(iv) If you fail to observe pollen tubes mount
another stigma.

Observation
Look for long blue-coloured tubular structures
traversing through the tissues of stigma and Fig.3.1 Growth of pollen tube
style (Fig. 3.1). in the style of a carpel

21/04/2018
EXERCISE 3

Discussion
Pollen tubes are seen amidst the stylar tissue. Many pollen tubes may be
seen. Trace the origin of pollen tubes to the pollen grains present around
the surface of the stigma.

Questions
1. Can pollen grains of one plant species germinate on stigma of other species?
Give reasons.
2. Do all pollen tubes reach the ovules?
3. Are all the pollen tubes of equal length? If not, why?

15

21/04/2018

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